[hider=Fancy a game of cards?][url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a35l5lKYkvo[/url][/hider] Lost among the heaving crowds that had packed into Dagan's Drought for warmth and company on this bitter winter night sat Edwina Swift and Calador the drafter. An odd looking pair among dozens that had cosied up to each other during this party. The two had spent the winter months slogging their way through one battle for the walls after another, learning each other's combinative quirks as they fended off waves of barbarian attackers. However Calador insisted on finding other words to call their besiegers. Constantly knit picking and arguing that these were simply a different society of people trying to make their way in the world the same as everyone at Mournhold. Just with a different set of societal norms and values (and no doubt resources) that had lead them into conflict with the people of this young holding. All the respect he insisted they get didn't stop him blasting them to pieces with sorcery but whenever someone pointed that out he'd insist it was immaterial since their two groups had come to a violent impasse. It was the pay for those fights that was funding the fun both he and Edwina felt they'd earned themselves now. And it was the loot from their last fight he was playing with at their table. Spread out on its surface was a deck of playing cards Calador had found on the body of a champion he'd decapitated. Made from finely shaved bone and painted with berry juices he'd excitedly claimed it a relic from old Gaerth. How the bastard had gotten it he had no idea but he was now in the process of teaching young Edwina how to play "Worker and Parasite" a game that was created in the slave pits by some enterprising slaves that refused to let their minds be caged. "Now you see, Young Edwina, if I play my hanging Jotun in combination with my third shackle card and that's... three points stolen from you and given to me, AHA!" He cheered completely oblivious to the strange look his loud instructions had gotten him from a nearby Jotun who managed to spy the grizzly picture on the playing card. Ed furrowed her brow in concentration, or was it confusion? She hadn't figured that out yet. Despite the rowdiness of the establishment, there was a cosiness to it all, and something she'd grown accustomed to since leaving her more docile Holding. One thing was for certain, she was glad Calador, or Dory as she affectionately referred to him as, had joined her. It was good to have a friend with her in this strange part of the world, and she had learned so much! Like the dumb game they were currently playing, that she definitely understood the rules of. Biting her bottom lip thoughtfully, the girl looked between the cards in her hand, and those in play on the thoroughly used table. "I will..." Her hand hovered over a card hesitantly for a few moments. "I will play Cellvan's Vigour, with Flagellation, and take 5 points!" She slammed her cards on the table, a triumphant smile brightening her eyes. "I am so good at this game!" She loudly proclaimed. "No no no, young Edwina!" Calador scoffed, shaking his mop of white petals. "Those cards are of a different suit. And each others counter to boot. Now I'll give you a tip, you want to play the whip." He leaned over the table, craning his neck to take a look at Edwina's hand and tapped his fingers along the top of some of her cards to point them out. "And something with a slaver's band." The two played on for a little longer, Calador going easy on her for this practice game and keeping an eye out for the food they'd ordered. "So what do you think of this trip to Ashfoot we're to start out on tomorrow, Edwina?" "Stop it." The girl mumbled in irritation. "You know it annoys me." Rubbing the back of her neck, Ed let out a frustrated huff and tossed her cards onto the table, sitting back in her chair before crossing her arms sulkily. "You're not my mum, so stop calling me Edwina, also this game is stupid." Ed was never the best person to play games with, as her siblings could attest to. "This game was made by the creative souls forced into bondage to help lift their spirits and free their minds." Calador chided her with a click of his tongue to punctuate the point. "And one's name is something to take pride in, the foundation of our identities." And since Calador was the closest thing to a guardian she had away from Plent Calador was determined to treat Ed like, and encourage her to conduct herself as, a respectable young lady. "And you are avoiding my question. Do you feel ready for the road tomorrow?" He hoped she was, this was the kind of thing she'd been devouring stories of all her childhood. But it wasn't too late and all it would take was a word for Calador to help Ed get home to the safety of her Hold. "Yeah, yeah, [i]Dory[/i]." Ed rolled her eyes, putting her hands behind her head as she began rocking her chair back slowly. "It'll be good to get outta here." she chuckled slightly. "Hopefully somewhere warmer." Plent had cold winters, but they were like sunbathing in the fields compared to Mournhold. "Are you trying to talk me out of it?" Ed smirked, "Has mum been sending you messages again? I told her 'Stop worrying, I'm with the old man', but apparently that didn't make her feel better." She narrowed her eyes playfully at Calador "I wonder why that is?" The Cellva set to bristling, leaning all the way back in his chair as he retreated before Ed's playful accusation. "Yes well... you know. Anything can happen out there on the road! Miles away from home and comfort. Surrounded by dangers. You handled yourself admirably during the siege but doing the same in the wilderness is a whole other beast. Not everyone is made for it." As if to help punctuate his point his statement was followed up by a bellowing roar, as if some beast had been set loose in the building. "It can be very scary out there." Suddenly there was a great crash as a table was sent toppling over. "It can feel like the whole world is against you out there." And the crowd on the other side of the room started exploding as well. The place was already loud and rowdy but this sounded like something else. What was going on here. Bottles went flying overhead and a smaller Ukanuq by the looks of it. Ah... a brawl was breaking out. Lovely. Fist fights and spots of violent acrobatics were springing up all around them. [b]"Shit! Shit! Shit!"[/b] Cried a diminutive human girl who looked a few years Edwina's junior amid all the chaos. A furious feline patron hot on her heels with claws drawn. "See, like this. That could be you everyday out there." Calador waved sagely. "Everyday, huh?" Ed draped an arm over the back of her chair as she looked on at the quickly developing situation curiously. The feline Ukanuq was looking for some serious retribution, what could this waif of a girl had done to upset him so much? Whatever it was, it surely didn't deserve a mauling. "I'mma help her, Dory." Ed's eyes brightened with excitement as she glanced at Calador. "Leave nature to its work, my dear. It is a delicate balance you risk upsetting." Calador called over the din, gathering up his precious antiques before the brawl could claim them. He'd never get his food order now. Ed nodded her head quickly. "Yeah, you're right, I should definitely help her." She winked at the Cellvan as she got to her feet, kicking her chair out from beneath herself. "Oi!" She called out to the feline Ukanuq, "Don't be so catty, if ya..." She trailed off for a second, before quickly looking back at Calador, her brow furrowed. "Is that racist? It sounds like it might be racist." "It wasn't the best option you could have gone with, no." Calador sighed, just glad no one was paying enough attention to see him cringe. "Perhaps focus your attention on the girl you're saving instead?" "No, no, you're right, I can do better!" Ed quickly thanked her mentor before turning her attention back to the task at hand. "Oi!" with one hand on her hip, she pointed at the pair. "Don't be so..." Ed frowned as she tried to think of a better pun, damn it! These things were always so much harder on the fly! "I think you should... no, that doesn't work" Shit! She was blowing her big moment to shine! Getting visibly frustrated, for a few moments, the girl shook her head quickly. "Nah, fuck it, this ain't working." Quickly regaining her composure, she coughed slightly. "OI, PUSS, FUCKIN' FIGHT ME YA BIG WUSS!" With a big grin, she looked back at Calador for approval, ridiculously proud of her rhyming skills. "Yeah? Yeah that works, right?" She silently mouthed to the Cellvan. The look he gave back to her said it did anything but, as Calador fought the urge to retreat further into his robes. "Just get on with it!" He mouthed back at her, shooing the girl on and mourning for the noble company he'd once walked with.